After spending so much time in the city, it was a delight to arrive in the countryside, where the air is fresh and the land is vast and sparsely populated. My friend took on the role of tour guide. Their village is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with a single exit. It's said that the layout of the houses was designed by a wise person long ago. Behind the encircling mountains is a river, and the river's outlet coincides with the village's exit, so the villagers often use water routes to connect with the outside world.
Due to being surrounded by mountains, the climate here remains humid, and the annual harvests ensure that the people live happily and prosperously.
As we approached the village entrance, we saw a four-meter-tall stone stele. It seemed ancient and was quite damaged. My friend mentioned that this stele had been there since the village was established.
"Is that you, Xiao Si?" A middle-aged man in his forties saw us and greeted us excitedly.
He bore a resemblance to Ji Yan, with a broad forehead, high nose, and thin lips, though his face was slightly longer. He wore a white short-sleeved shirt and black trousers, standing before us.
"Uncle!" It turned out to be his uncle.
"Xiao Si, if it weren't for your grandmother calling you back for a matchmaking, you'd have forgotten about your uncle. And who is this?" The uncle finally noticed me.
"He's a friend of mine who wanted to visit here to breathe some fresh air after being in the city for so long," Ji Yan introduced me enthusiastically.
"My name is Ji Xue. Since you're Xiao Si's friend, you're our guest. Come, follow me into the village." Ji Xue led the way, and we followed. As we walked, I noticed that the paths were winding and challenging to navigate.
"Outsiders can easily get lost here. The village's layout has remained unchanged for centuries, and without a local guide, even a compass would be useless past the stele," Ji Xue explained. I was surprised he seemed to know what I was thinking.
"But this doesn't mean the villagers are isolated from the outside world. Many young people have ventured out, including my brother and, of course, Xiao Si." Ji Xue seemed a bit emotional when mentioning Ji Yan's father.
"Most of the villagers share the surname Ji, but this place isn't called Ji Family Village. For generations, our ancestors have called it Fan Village."
"Fan Village? As in troublesome?" I asked naively.
"Not 'troublesome.' It's the 'Fan' from the Buddhist term, meaning a place of purity," Ji Yan clarified.
Ji Xue fell silent, perhaps because of my foolish question. After nearly an hour, we finally arrived at Ji Yan's home.
His house was situated on a high slope, accessible via a twelve-step staircase. At the top was a circular area with a diameter of over three meters, featuring a Taiji Bagua pattern. The main gate was not wide but was about six meters high, just enough for three people to pass through side by side. Everything was made of wood, showing signs of age.
Strangely, the house had two thresholds. Although not high, I almost tripped over them due to my inattention.
Inside was a large rectangular living room, reminiscent of those seen in old TV shows. There was a tea table in front, flanked by two grand chairs. Above the tea table hung a painting, seemingly of Guanyin bestowing a child, likely meant to bless the family with prosperity.
There were four chairs on each side, all made of dark green wood, smooth as porcelain. The floor was paved with stone blocks, each about 20 centimeters square, and immaculately clean.
"Sit down. I'll go fetch my mother. She got up early, knowing you were coming, and she's been chanting in the inner room," Ji Xue said as he welcomed us and then left. I sat down and sipped my tea, feeling as if I had traveled back in time several decades.
Soon, an elderly lady, supported by Ji Xue, walked in. She wore a red silk coat embroidered with the character for "longevity" and carried a string of Buddhist beads in her left hand and a dragon-headed cane in her right. Despite her age, her face was delicate, and her features were clear, showing no signs of typical elderly frailty. Instead, she looked remarkably healthy.
"Xiao Si," she called out, looking at Ji Yan. He quickly stood up and went to greet her.
While the grandmother and grandson conversed, I felt it inappropriate to stay, so I stood up. Ji Xue came over promptly, "Let me take you for a walk."
"Sure," I agreed, grateful for his understanding.
This time, I didn't stumble.
We explored many places, including vast farmlands behind the village. It was truly beautiful, especially during the busy summer season when everyone was hard at work. We also saw various ancient structures, such as temples and tombs, which the villagers took great care to preserve. They were very friendly too. However, I noticed that only Ji Yan's house was situated on high ground, making it quite conspicuous.
The village had some electrical appliances, though not many. Ji Xue explained that the villagers preferred not to be overly dependent on such things. I marveled at how this place resembled a utopia in today's society.
Suddenly, I remembered the village's taboo: the back mountain.
"I heard that people rarely go to the back mountain. Is that true?" I asked. Ji Xue was taken aback and quickly asked who told me. I said it was Ji Yan. He laughed, "That's an old tale. It's mainly because there are wild animals there, so we don't let children go alone. It's just an ordinary mountain."
Since he said so, I didn't press further. Ji Xue checked the time and said we should head back for dinner. Just the mention of food made my stomach growl, as the train food had been dreadful.
Back at Ji Yan's home, the grandmother was still talking to him, seemingly persuading him to meet the girl she had chosen.
"Xiao Si, you know I live day by day now. My biggest wish is to see you married and settled before I pass. It's my only wish," she said, tears welling up in her eyes. Ji Yan was caught between laughter and tears, trying to comfort her.
"Grandma, I'm not a marriage machine. Besides, I haven't even met the girl yet. How can I talk about marriage? Please don't pressure me."
"So you'll meet her? That's great! After lunch, I'll ask your uncle to bring her over. You must meet her at least once, whether it works out or not," his grandmother said, her mood instantly lifting. Ji Yan reluctantly nodded. He glanced at me, and I couldn't help but chuckle, thankful I didn't have such a burden.
Lunch was sumptuous, with all-natural foods, high-quality chicken, fresh vegetables, and fish from their pond. As a guest, I restrained myself and only had four bowls.
Ji Yan, however, had no appetite. Watching me eat, he merely poked his chopsticks into his bowl. I was surprised that only the four of us were eating in such a large house.
After lunch, Ji Xue went out. I saw Ji Yan pacing anxiously, which amused me. He had faced many strange things, but a matchmaking session made him nervous. It seemed true that he had never dated before. Meanwhile, his grandmother made small talk with me.
Then, a girl walked in. I turned to look and was shocked. It was Yue Luolei, my colleague from the newspaper.
She wasn't very familiar with me, as she likely didn't know a minor employee like me. However, she was famous at the newspaper for being the youngest and most beautiful editor-in-chief, with a reputedly wealthy background. I didn't expect her to be the matchmaking candidate.
Today, she wore a simple yellow sleeveless cotton top and jeans, with her hair casually tied back. Ji Yan was equally surprised to see a city girl.
Yue Luolei also looked surprised but sat down, gazing at Ji Yan's grandmother. An awkward silence ensued. Finally, Ji Yan's grandmother said, "Let's step out for a bit and give these young people some privacy." Ji Xue led her away, and I excused myself, leaving the room. As I left, I glanced at Yue Luolei, who was also looking at me, making me slightly nervous.
Without Ji Xue guiding me, I didn't dare wander far, so I stayed around the house. Unexpectedly, I found a stone Buddha statue in the back.
It wasn't just the Buddha statue that intrigued me; it was its carving style. I knew this area historically belonged to the Northern Wei dynasty, renowned for its colorful and expressive Buddha statues. This statue of Shakyamuni, though damaged, differed significantly from the Northern Wei style, appearing much older.
There were inscriptions beneath the statue, but I couldn't decipher them. The statue stood over two meters tall, indicating it must have taken a long time to carve.
I returned to Ji Yan's home to find him relieved to see me.
"Ouyang, you're just in time. Miss Yue said she works at our newspaper," he said, pointing at Yue Luolei.
"Hello, I remember you work under Editor Li, right? He often talks about you. He recently gave you a month off, didn't he?" Her voice was as sweet as honey melting in hot water.
I was flattered and smiled shyly.
"So, you know each other. I was also forced to come by my family, but we can just be friends," Yue Luolei said graciously. Surprisingly, the three of us quickly became friends.
Ji Yan's grandmother was pleased, thinking Ji Yan and Yue Luolei were getting along well. However, she didn't like me hanging around.
The next few days were enjoyable for the three of us until Yue Luolei's incident.
One day, we were strolling through the village and realized none of us knew the way. Yue Luolei was also visiting for the first time.
"I'm a bit tired," she said, sitting down and rubbing her legs. Ji Yan and I were also weary, unsure of where we were. The sun was setting.
"Look, is that a wedding procession?" Yue Luolei pointed to the distance. Ji Yan and I looked but saw nothing.
"That's impossible. It's not the wedding season," Ji Yan said.
But Yue Luolei insisted she saw a bright red procession.
Ji Yan and I exchanged glances, and I joked, "Maybe you want to get married?"
Yue Luolei blushed, surprising me that someone usually so high and mighty could still blush.
"Hey!" Ji Xue called out from behind us. Finally, we could go back.
"What are you doing here?" Ji Xue scolded as he arrived, glancing around as if searching for something.
"Uncle, I saw a wedding procession. They don't believe me," Yue Luolei said.
Ji Xue smiled, "You must be mistaken." He then led us back. Yue Luolei's family wanted her to stay a few more days, so she did. I was thrilled at the thought of stargazing with her.
After dinner, Yue Luolei said her eye hurt and went to her room to rest. I was worried and went to check on her.
"Luolei, are you there?" I knocked gently, but there was no answer. Thinking she might be asleep, I started to leave but heard a noise inside.
The rooms in Ji Yan's house all had windows, not the modern glass and aluminum kind, but single-paned ones. I heard the window being broken. I turned the handle; the door was unlocked.
The room was dark, but by the moonlight, I saw that Yue Luolei wasn't there. The window was closed. I opened it and saw her walking outside.
She must have climbed out the window. I was about to call out to her when someone covered my mouth!
Turning around, I saw Ji Yan.
He gestured for silence and whispered, "Don't shout. We'll scare her. Something's off. Let's follow her and see where she goes." He pulled me along.
We kept a twenty-meter distance, watching her small, unsteady steps, like a drunken person.
The night was silent. The villagers seemed to sleep early after a day's work. We followed her for what felt like ages.
We arrived at a deserted area, with no stones or cover. Ji Yan noted that this was where Yue Luolei had seen the wedding procession earlier.
"Should we wake her up? It's dangerous to let her wander," I suggested, worried as it was nearly midnight.
Yue Luolei suddenly stopped, confusing us. We kept our distance and watched.
She raised her hands, muttering something. Slowly, she turned towards us, and we dropped to the ground to avoid being seen.
When she fully turned, I saw her left eye glowing red. The sight sent chills down my spine.
"What's happening? This isn't sleepwalking," I whispered to Ji Yan, who bit his lip and shook his head.
"She's possessed," Ji Yan said, standing up. "Let's take her back." He walked towards her.
I followed. As we got close, Yue Luolei collapsed. We rushed over, but she suddenly sat up, startling us.
"Where am I?" she asked, bewildered, looking around. Ji Yan and I exchanged glances, deciding to lie.
"You fell asleep, and we thought it'd be fun to play a joke and bring you here to see if there was a wedding procession. If not, we could stargaze together," Ji Yan said smoothly.
"Really?" She asked me, and I nodded vigorously. We spent the night stargazing because Ji Yan and I were too directionally challenged to find our way back.
The next day, Yue Luolei was back to normal. The previous night's events puzzled Ji Yan and me. Could it have been sleepwalking? But what about the eerie red glow?
During the day, we explored again. Yue Luolei said she wanted to relax, as working in journalism was stressful. I occasionally glanced at her eyes but saw nothing unusual.
Night seemed to fall unusually fast here. Like the previous night, Yue Luolei complained of eye pain and retired early. Ji Yan and I decided to guard her door and window this time.
Time passed quickly, and it was soon past ten. Strangely, nothing happened tonight. I didn't know about Ji Yan, but I dozed off against the door.
In a dream-like state, I heard music, the kind played at rural weddings. I jolted awake. The door behind me creaked open.
I felt a chill as I turned to see Yue Luolei in a blood-red bridal gown! She wore a silk top from the early Republic era, a red skirt with a flipped hem, and red embroidered shoes. Her lips were bright red, appearing bloodstained in the dark. She looked past me with vacant eyes and walked out slowly.
Where did the bridal gown come from? I rubbed my eyes, thinking I was seeing things, but the gown was real. She was already outside.
Panicking, I ran to the window, hoping to catch her. But she was gone. Where was Ji Yan? Was he possessed too? I ran back to find Yue Luolei nearly out of the house.
"Don't worry, she won't get past the double threshold," Ji Xue's voice came from behind, with Ji Yan beside him.
Sure enough, Yue Luolei collapsed at the threshold.
The double threshold wasn't just a tripping hazard. As she fell, the bridal gown seemed to vanish, like smoke entering her left eye.
"The One-Eyed Bride," Ji Yan and Ji Xue said in unison.
I placed Yue Luolei on a chair. Her face was deathly pale, and though she was unconscious, her left eye remained open, glowing red.
"What's the One-Eyed Bride?" I asked, confused.
"As an outsider, you wouldn't know the story. During the Republic era, a beautiful girl from the village was forced to marry a military officer who was no better than a bandit. She didn't want to marry him, but the officer threatened to kill everyone if she refused. The villagers pressured and even insulted her until she tearfully agreed, making the officer promise not to harm the village.
"That night, the officer waited at the village entrance for the bridal procession. When he lifted the curtain, he was so frightened that he fell. The villagers saw the girl had committed suicide with scissors, but not before gouging out her left eye, holding it in her hand. This was a powerful curse. They believed that the face was like a Taiji symbol, with the eyes as the black and white dots. The left eye saw the Yin world, the right saw the Yang. By removing her left eye, she disrupted the balance, dooming those who saw her left eye to die," Ji Xue recounted.
"Afterward, there were mass killings in the village. The officer was found dead with his left eye missing. Those who pressured her were also found dead without their left eyes. Some said they saw a girl in a red bridal gown. The village was in chaos until our grandfather, Ji Lao, sacrificed his right eye to seal her spirit in it. The villagers built this house for us out of respect.
"But our grandfather couldn't fully contain her rage. He passed away, warning that the One-Eyed Bride would return in seventy years, seeking a girl of her age and appearance to take her place and complete her cursed path," Ji Xue concluded.
I was stunned. Yue Luolei hadn't awakened. Was she to become the One-Eyed Bride's replacement?
"Is there no other way?" I couldn't bear to see her die senselessly.
"Her anger makes it difficult. The double threshold only delays her. Her left eye will turn fully red, and then it'll be too late," Ji Yan said, showing me her nearly red eye.
"Please, save her," I pleaded, gripping Ji Yan's shoulders. He reassured me, "We'll move her to the ancient temple and try to control her there."
We moved Yue Luolei to the temple, placing her under a Buddha statue and surrounding her with golden Buddhist beads. The three of us sat around her.
Ji Xue explained that their grandfather had said only by quelling her anger could she be defeated. "From where you came, you should return," he had said.
We didn't have time to ponder his words. Yue Luolei's eye was almost entirely red. The temple and beads had no effect.
"From where you came, you should return? What does that mean?" I wondered, staring at her pale face and glowing eye.
"Should I give you my eye instead?" I blurted out. Ji Yan was startled.
"Maybe we need her original eye to calm her," Ji Yan speculated. But finding an eye from decades ago seemed impossible.
"No, her left eye should be in our grandfather's right eye," Ji Yan said confidently.
"Why didn't he return it before?" I asked.
"Her anger was too strong then," Ji Yan replied.
"Xiao Si's right. But if we open the grave, we'll be seen as unfilial. Can you handle that?" Ji Xue warned Ji Yan.
"It's a matter of life and death. Grandfather will understand," Ji Yan said firmly, heading to convince his grandmother. "Stay with her," he told us, promising to save Yue Luolei.
Ji Xue and I headed to the family grave with some villagers to open the tomb.
Ji Lao's grave was grand and pristine. We prayed and apologized before carefully opening it. Ji Yan arrived as we reached the wooden coffin.
"Grandma agreed. I said I couldn't live if anything happened to my future wife," Ji Yan joked.
Inside, Ji Lao's body was decomposed, but his right eye glowed red. We carefully took it, wrapping it in red cloth.
As we prepared to restore the grave, the temple watchers rushed over. Yue Luolei had escaped.
Time was running out. We took the eye and searched for her.
"She must be where she saw the wedding procession," Ji Yan guessed. We found her there, in the red bridal gown again.
Standing before us, she looked both alluring and tragic.
I approached with the eye. "You should return from where you came. I don't want her to replace you," I pleaded.
"Who are you? Do you love her?" she mocked, her voice empty.
"Not love, but I can't let her die. And I don't want you to continue this way."
"Wrong? You don't know the pain of betrayal and being forced to die. If you were me, you'd hate this world even more," she said, her eye glowing red.
"I'm giving you back what's yours. If that's not enough..." I took a deep breath, "I'll give you my left eye."
She looked at me, surprised, then laughed. "Fine, give it to me," she said, extending her hand.
I froze. It was easy to say, but hard to do. My hand trembled near my eye.
"Hurry, I'm losing patience. The wedding procession is coming. Look," she taunted. The red procession approached like a tongue extending across the field.
Time was short. If losing an eye could save her, it was worth it. I steeled myself and reached for my eye.
Just as my finger touched my eye, a strong wind blew, almost knocking us down. Ji Yan and Ji Xue held me steady. When the wind stopped, everything was gone. Yue Luolei lay on the ground, the bridal gown gone.
The voice echoed, "I'll be watching you, seeing if you lied." Then it faded away.
The curse of the One-Eyed Bride, which had plagued the village for decades, finally ended. I can't say for sure if she's truly gone or if her red eye is watching from some corner, perhaps watching you.